CRANBERRY TWP — A local church used a GPS system to land itself in 48th place on the nation's 100 fastest-growing churches list.

The technology-inspired acronym has nothing to do with locating the church using latitude and longitude. GPS stands for Grow closer to God, Pursue relationships with others, and Serve the world.

Pastors at Grace Community Church on Mystic Pine Trail were informed in August that Outreach magazine had bestowed the coveted placement on their church.

Cindy Zonts, spokeswoman for the nondenominational church, said Grace Community subscribes to Outreach magazine, and one of the staff members applied to the list by completing a survey included in one edition.

The California-based magazine later requested more information on the church, including attendance numbers for the last two years. Zonts said the church, which began accepting worshippers in 2001, had grown by 1,540 people, or 96 percent, by 2007.

She said 1,200 people attend the church's three weekend services, and another service will be added soon. Asked how Grace Community grew so impressively, Zonts said leaders think outside the box.

"It's a different type of church," she said, explaining Grace Community was started by the Rev. Matt Kaltenburger as a stand-alone church with no support from a larger organization.

In addition to a laid-back, denim-and-latte atmosphere, Kaltenburger said growth is due in large part to the church's GPS policy.

Kaltenburger said all programs at the church, including worship, are centered around the GPS concept. For example, all worship services underscore a deeper relationship with God. Kaltenburger has used unique means and altered personifications to illustrate his point at weekend worship, including riding down the isle on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, dressing as Elvis Presley and donning surgical garb for a sermon series entitled "Grace Anatomy."

"A lot of people say they are coming back excited because they don't know what to expect," said Kaltenburger. "Hopefully they are leaving with a better understanding of God."

Pursuing relationships with others is achieved at Grace Community by participating in one of the 40 to 50 ReaLife groups offered in the homes of church members. Each group has 10 to 15 participants and can include a theme to customize the group toward a single subject. Junior high parents, senior adults, women, men and Pastor Matt's sermon series are a few of the ReaLife groups currently meeting.

The eight weekly meetings last between 90 and 120 minutes, which includes time spent in fellowship via a shared meal or snack, prayer and Bible study. The rest of the study is spent using the discussion materials provided to each group's volunteer guide.

The "service" part of the GPS system was demonstrated Oct. 18, when 700 members and attendees of Grace Community donned red T-shirts and descended on the Cranberry Township area in the "ONE" project.

"The idea was to work as one church with one purpose of serving the community by completing numerous projects in one day and celebrating with one worship service," said Zonts.

Red-shirted participants spent the day painting and cleaning out gutters, building a playground, taking meals to shut-ins, raking leaves and even washing cars for free at the intersection of Routes 19 and 228. At the end of the day, the volunteers and those who received services were invited to a worship service and dinner at the Cranberry Community Park's amphitheater.

"It was an opportunity to be a part of what God is doing and touching the community in a positive way," said Kaltenburger.

Kaltenburger said Grace Community Church is the opposite of the traditional churches many members grew up in, where "people put on their church faces" for an hour, then go home.

Peter Schogel of Wexford, agrees.

Schogel and his family joined Grace Community about a year ago after hearing about the church through friends.

"It's engaging; it's challenging," Schogel said.

"The preacher is not just giving us the Sunday message, he's giving us the all-week message for us to go out and apply in our lives."

Schogel also said the congregation extends a welcoming and friendly attitude toward newcomers, remembering and acknowledging them during weeks following an initial visit.

"It's not just one person that makes that place great, it's all the people," Schogel said.

But still, the sermon delivery defies those that many churchgoers have seen in the past.

Kaltenburger delivers his message in blue jeans, and the atmosphere is kept as accepting and homelike as possible.

"We don't want to play church," said Kaltenburger. "We want to meet people where they are. Every week we say we're not here for religion, we're here to worship God together."

Kaltenburger said growth happens strictly through word-of-mouth, with 10 to 15 new families attending each week.

"I always say if I could (conduct worship) on a big couch, I would," said Kaltenburger.

Worship services at the church, which is the former home of Victory Family Church, are at 6 p.m. Saturday evening and 8:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. For more information, log onto www.graceincranberry.org or call 724-779-7997.